Hosiery packaging apparatus and method



Feb. 23, 1960 w. s. BOONE HOSIERY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 6, 1957 ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, .1960 w. s. BOONE 2,925,693

HOSIERY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WALTER S- BOON INVENTOR- BY mnxwdiwuw ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1960 w. s. BOONE 2,925,693

HOSIERY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Aug. 6, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

WALTER 5. booma.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent HOSIERY PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD Walter S. Boone, Valdese, N.C., assignor to Waldension Hosiery Mills, Inc., Valdese, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Application August 6, 1957, Serial No. 676,575

9 Claims. (Cl. 53-21) This invention generally relates to the art of packaging hosiery and, more especially, 'to an improved apparatus and method particularly adapted to the making of stocking packages formed of hose, socks or stockings positioned on foldable insert forms of a type such as is disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 659,654, filed May 16, 1957, and entitled Sock Package and Method.

In forming the package according to the principles of the invention disclosed in my said co-pending application, an insert form member made from a stiff, foldable sheet material is used, which comprises a pair of opposed integral leg sections or leg and foot sections of substantially symmetrical form, with one sock of a pair positioned on one section and the other sock of a pair positioned on the other section with the tops or cuff portions of the socks being disposed in close proximity or abutting relationship at the juncture of the two sections. The foot portions of the two stockings or socks are folded inwardly toward each other against the respective leg portions and the insert form member is folded at the juncture of the two sections so the foot portions of the socks are sandwiched between the leg portions of the socks and the corresponding leg-supporting sections of the insert form member.

' It is a primary object of this invention to provide a simple, efificient and economically constructed apparatus particularly adapted to facilitate the positioning of socks and other hosiery on insert form members of substantially the character disclosed in said co-pending application.

' It is another object of this invention toprovide an improved method of packaging pairs of socks or stockings which includes laterally folding intermediate its ends an insert form member made from a stiff, relatively thin and foldable material and having opposed substantially symmetrical sock-receiving sections thereon, positioning the insert form member thus folded between a pair of rigid relatively thin plates, guides or body members of substantially the same configuration as the respective sections of the insert form member, then positioning a sock or stocking of a pair over one of the sections of the form member and its corresponding body member, thenpositioning the other sock or stocking of a pair on the other of the sections of the form member and over the corresponding bodymember, then folding the foot portions of the stockings inwardly toward each other and between the partially folded insert form member with the stockings or socks thereon, then withdraw-' ing the stocking from the plates or body members along with the insert form member.

It is another object of this invention to provide. an apparatus comprising a pair of hingedly interconnected body membershaving complementary flanges extending along the longitudinal side edges thereof, which body, members are adapted to receive and supportlrespective. opposed sections of a single-piece insert form member therebetween with the form member being folded transice versely at the juncture of the two sections. A stocking or sock is then slid over each of said body members and the respective sections of the insert form member whereby the feet of the two stockings are folded inwardly, and the two body members with the insert therein and the stocking thereon are then folded together so the feet of the two stockings of the pair are sandwiched between the leg portions of the two stockings and the corresponding sections of the insert form member. Thereupon the two stockings may be grasped by the operator at the junctures of the foot and leg portions thereof and withdrawn from the corresponding body members with the insert form member.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the descriptionproceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the improved stockingpackage-forming apparatus showing the body members thereof in open position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the lower portion thereof broken away and showing a partially folded insert form member positioned therein;

Figure 2-A is a view of one form of insert form member for use with which the present apparatus is particularly devised;

'Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the stockings positioned on the two body members and over the corresponding insert form member with the foot portions of the stockings folded inwardly, and wherein the body members of the improved apparatus also occupy open position;

Figure'4is another view similar to Figure 3 wherein the twobody members are shown in substantially closed position;

' Figure 5 is .aview similar to Figure 4 showing the, stockings on the corresponding insert form member partially withdrawn from the improved package-forming apparatus;

Figure 6 is an enlargedfragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially, along line 66 in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a view of a finished package as made utiliz ing the type'of insert form member shown in Figure 2-A;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the improved apparatus as used with another type of insert' form member having foot-supporting sections integral with the leg-supporting sections thereof;

Figure 9 is a, fragmentary view similar to Figure 8, on a reduced scale, showing apair of socks positioned; on corresponding sections ofthe type of insert form member shown in Figure 8, and over the two body members;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the socks on the type of insert form member illustrated in Figure 8 and being partially removed from the improved apparatus;

Figure, 11 is a view of the socks positioned on the insertform member having integral leg and foot sections;

' Figure l'z is a view similar to Figure 11 showing the completed package. f

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the improvedapparatus'is shown as used in carrying out the method which'two different types of insert form mem'- bers are used, these different types of insert form mem bers. being exemplary of many different types ofform members which may be used in carrying out thepresent material 'andhaving' integral, substantially symmetrical and opposed leg "sections; The present apparatusis shown in Figures 8', 9 and 10 as it is used in making a stocking package utilizing an insert form member which, in addition to being provided with opposed integral leg sections, also hasa foot-supporting section integralwith and normally extending outwardly from each leg section. The improved apparatus may be constructed in the same manner for use with each of the types of form members illustrated herein and may also be used for forming stocking packages from any of various types of insert form members such as are disclosed in said co-pending application.

One form of the insert form member is shown in Figures 2 and 2-A broadly designated at 30. The insert form member 30 comprises two substantially symmetrical opposed leg sections 31, 31' formed integral with each other and whose junctures are defined by a fold line which may be in the form of a score or crease line. The sections 31, 31 of the insert form member 30 are provided with respective opposed longitudinally extending side edges 34, 35 and 34', 35' and respective end edges 36, 36. The end edges 36, 36' each extends at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the form member 30.

The front side edges 34, 34' of the two sections 31, 31' extend in substantially parallel alinement and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the form mem ber 30. It will be noted that the two opposed end edges 36, 36' extend in diverging relationship from the parallel front edges 34, 34'. On the other hand, the rear side edges 35, 35' opposite from the respective side edges 34, 34' extend from the fold line 33 in diverging relation to the longitudinal axis or to the respective edges 34, 34', to form an acute angularly shaped heel-supporting portion 37 which is preferably rounded at the juncture at each of the end edges 36, 36' with the respective rear side edges 35, 35'.

The type of insert form member shown in Figures 8 and 9 is substantially the same as the type shown in Figures 2' and 2-A, and is broadly designated at 30a. Those parts of the insert form member 30a which are substantially the same or identical to the parts of the insert form member 30 will bear the same reference characters to avoid repetitive description. The insert form member 30a differs from the insert form member 30 in that, instead of end edges being formed at opposite ends of the leg sections 31, 31' of the insert form member 300, respective angularly extending fold lines 40 and 40' are provided defining the proximal edges of normally outwardly extending foot-supporting sections 41, 41'. Only the foot-supporting section 41 is shown in its entirety in Figure 8, although it is apparent that both of the extensions or foot-supporting sections 41, 41' may be identical. Accordingly, only the foot-supporting section 41 will be described in detail.

Front and rear edges 42, 43 of each foot section 41 extend in converging relationship and the front edge 42 also extends outwardly at an angle relative to the longitudinal front edge 34 of the leg section 31. The fold line 40 preferably substantially bisects the angle defined between the edges 34, 42 of the section 31, 41 of insert form member 30a so that, when the foot section 41 is folded downwardly and inwardly against the leg section 31, the front edge 42 thereof substantially coincides with the'front edge 34 of the leg section 31. The free end of the foot portion 41 is preferably rounded or beveled substantially as shown at 45, to support the toe portion of a corresponding stocking as shown in Figures 9, 11 and 12.

The improved insert form holder and package making apparatus generally comprises a pair of main and auxiliary, similarly shaped, and relatively thin body members 50, 50' each of which is made from a rigid incompressible material, such as steel. The particular shape of each of the body members 50, 50 may vary, depending upon the particular type of insert form member to be used therewith. However, the body members 50, 50 will accommodate many different types and sizes of insert form members in the form in which they are illustrated in the drawings. The body members 50, 50' each comprises an elongated, fiat and relatively thin body portion or plate portion 51 provided with longitudinally extending flanges 52, 53 on opposite side edges thereof, which flanges 52, 53 extend inwardly relative to the other of the body members. The body members 50, 50' are each of generally trapezoidal shape; that is, their lower. end edges or ends are of lesser width than their upper ends so the flanges 52, 53 extend upwardly in diverging relationship. I

The rear edge or flange 53 of each body member 50, 50' is preferably relatively longer than the other edge or flange 52 so the upper or free edges of the body members 50, 50' each extends at an angle with respect to their respective longitudinal axes, which angle preferably substantially coincides with the angle at which the end edges 36, 36' of the insert form member extend relative to the respective pairs of front and rear edges 34, 35, and 34', The plate 51 of each of the body members 50, 50' is provided with a longitudinally or vertically extending slot 56 therein which is open at its upper end to facilitate grasping the insert with socks thereon for withdrawing the same from the package-making appa' ratus as will be more fully described hereinafter. In order to prevent damaging socks as they are positioned about the respective body members, and are subsequently withdrawn therefrom, the body members 50, 50' should be smooth and all corners and edges thereof should be rounded and polished.

The body member 50 is longer than the body member 50' and is suitably secured to a standard or pedestal 60 which is illustrated in the form of a post 61 having a vertically extending slot 62 in its upper portion for receiving the lower portion of the plate 51 of the main body member 50. The lower portion of the body member 50 is suitably secured in the slot 62 by any suitable means such as a screw 63. The lower end of the post 61 is secured to or formed integral with a flange or base 64 which may be suitably secured, as by screws or other fastening means 65 upon a platform or table, as desired.

The body member 50' is hingedly connected to the lower portion of body member 50 above the post 61 of the pedestal 60, preferably by means of a hinge member 66. The hinge member 66 may be of any desired construction and is shown as comprising a pair of leaves 70, 71 pivotally connected together by a pivot pin 72. The lower leaf 70 of the hinge member 66 is suitably secured to the lower portion of the plate or body portion 51 of the main body member 50 between the flanges 52, 53. The upper leaf 71 is suitably secured to the lower portion of the body member or plate 51 of the auxiliary body member 50' between the flanges 52, 53 thereof in such a manner that the pivot pin 72 is spaced substantially above the lowermost edge of the plate or body portion 51 of the auxiliary body member 50'. Thus, since the main body member 50 extends in a substantially vertical attitude, the hinge point or pivot point 72 is disposed to one side of the vertical plane of the main body member 50 so that gravity causes the auxiliary body member 50' to normally occupy open position or an angular attitude relative to the main body member 50 and, in so doing, the lower edge of the plate portion 51 of the auxiliary body member 50' rests against the flanges 51, 53 of the main body member 50 or against the lower leaf 70 of the hinge member 66.

Since the auxiliary body member 50' normally occupies open position, it is apparent, by referring to Figure 2, that the insert form member 30 or 30a, as the case may be, may be folded at the juncture of the leg sections thereof and easily inserted between the body members 50, 50' with the fold line 33 disposed adjacent the juncture of the body members 50, 50'. It will 5. be noted that the free endedges 36, 36 of the insert form member 30a, in each instance, terminate'substam tially flush with or slightly below the free edges ofm'em hers 50,50. e

In using the first form of. insert form member 30, it will be noted that the body members 50, 50' of the pack agemaking apparatus occupy open position. As shown in Figure 3, the two socks or stockings 80, 80 of a pair are-then drawn over the respective body members 50, 50 and the re'spective'sections 31, 31 of the insert form member 30.

The socks.80 and 80 shown in Figure 3 are each of the us'ual type including an open top, portion 81, leg portion 82, foot portion 83, heel portion 84 and toe portion 85. Thetop portion 81 is generally elastic and normally somewhat narrower than the leg 82, being formed of narrow ribbed fabric or having rubber thread incorporated in the plain knit fabric so as to give ita ribbed appearance. The socks 80, 80 may be made from the usual cotton material, cotton yarn, or stretchyarn or any'other desired type oftyarn. It is apparent, by referring to Figure 3, that the open top is stretched somewhat as the operator positions the tops 81 and legs 82 of the socks 80, 80" on the respective body members, 50, 5 0 and over the respective sections 31, 31 of the insert form member 30 As further illustrated in Figure 3, the foot portions 83 ofthe socks 80, 80 are then folded inwardlyso they lie against the approximatal surfaces of the respective leg portions 82.

Thereafter, the auxiliary body member 50 is folded toward the main body member 50 to occupy substantially vertical position,- as shown in Figure 4, and whereby the foot portions 83 and the toe portions 85 are sandwiched between leg portions 82 of the two socks. Thereafter'the operator merely grasps the outer surfaces of the folded socks, adjacent the upper portions thereof, and pinches the same'against the portions of the sections 31, 31" of the insert form member 30 aligned with finger openings 56. The operator then exerts an upward pull on the socks and the insert form member 30 and slides the socks olt the respective body member 50, 50' and to remove the insert form member 30 from between the body member 50, 50 of the package making apparatus, with the socks 80, 80' positioned on the respective sections 31, 31' of the insert form member 30.-

Thereafter, the package as thus formed may be held in folded position by a suitable binder means 86 (Figure 7) which is shown in the form of thin pliable pocket, preferably made from paper, substantially conforming in shapeto, the shapeof the free end of the package and completely enclosing the heeland the junctures of the folded portions of the two socks 80, 80". The binder means '86 not only, servesto maintain the package in the desiredfoldedcondition, but may also provide a convenient medium for thedisplay of advertising indicia,

trademarks, etc.

After the binder means 86 has been positioned on the package, a suitable rider or top ticket 87, formed of paperor 'o'thenmaterial, may be. folded over thejold line 33 at the juncture of the two insert form sections 31, 31 and the upper edges of the corresponding socks and adhesively or otherwise secure to the socks as shown in Figure 7. However, since the two socks 80, 80 are positioned on a single insert form and the tops of the socks are pinched between the opposed sections 31, 31 at or near the fold line 33, the use of a top ticket is ordinarily unnecessary. Some retailers may desire a top ticket on each pair of socks packaged according to the present method for the display of advertising or other indicia, but it is generally desirable that such top tickets be omitted, so the tops or cuifs of stockings are not obstructed to examination by the customers.

In Figures 8 through 12, the sock package is shown as formed with the second form of insert form member having the integral foot portions 41, 41' thereon. It is apparent that the package is formed with the forrn'of insert member 30a in substantially the same manneras that heretofore described Wiih'IGSPCCt tothe first form of the insert form member 30. Of course, the socks are drawn over thefoot sections of the insert form member-30q and then over the body members 50, 50and the respectiveleg sections 31, 31' in the forming of the package shown in Figure 12. It is apparent that thefoot portions 83 of the two socks 80, are then positioned on the respective foot sections 41, 41 of the insert form member 30a.

Th'us', the foot sections 41, 41 are folded inwardly with the foot portions 83 of the respective socks 80, 80' thereon, so the foot-and toe portions 83 and 85 of the socks 80, 80'lie against and substantially parallel to the respective leg portions 82. The body member 50' is then folded upwardly asshown in Figure 10, and the socks are then removed from the package-making apparatus and the package is then completed, as shown progressively in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, and in substantially the same manner as that described with re.- spect to the forming of the package utilizing the first form of'insert form member 30 shown in the progressive steps inFigures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. Accordingly, afur ther detailed description of the method of forming the package'from the second form of insert form member 30a utilizing the present apparatus, is deemed unneces sary. I

It is apparent that, when the type of insert form membershown in Figure 8 is used, the body members 50, 50

may be 'o-f the same length as the combined length of.

the respective leg and'foot sections 31, 41 and31', 41, without departing from the spirit of the'invention. further contemplated that the flanges 52, '53 of the body members 50, 50 may then terminate short of the free ends of the body members 50,50 and the'upper or free end portions of the bodymembers 50, 50' rounded or. beveled tolsu bstantially conform to the shape of the.

of the stockings could then be folded inwardly with the.

corresponding "foot sections 41, 41' to lie against the respective leg portions of the stockings. However, as heretofore stated, satisfactory packages are formed Without folding "the foot portions against the leg portions of the stocking on insert form members of the type shown in Figure8, according to the desires of thecustomer.

' It is; thus seen that I have provided a novel method of positioning hosiery on insert form members to form.

sock packages, and have also provided a novel appara tus facilitatingthe steps of the improved method, wherein the in'se'rt form member may be readily positioned inv the apparatusflhe-two socks of a pair positioned there:

on, and the body members 50, 50' may then be folded together to facilitate removing the folded socks and insert from the package forming apparatus.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. The method of positioning socks on an insert form member made from thin bendable sheet material which comprises positioning opposed sections of such member between a pair of opposed thin rigid plates, drawing a sock over and about each plate and the corresponding section, closing the opposed plates together in substansecond It is,

tially parallel relationship with the socks thereon, and then grasping the socks and sections adjacent one end of the plates and simultaneously withdrawing the socks and the opposed sections from the plates.

2. A method of drawing pairs of stockings onto corresponding inserts which includes folding an insert at a medial portion thereof transversely of its longitudinal axis to form opposed sections, positioning the insert between and in substantially coinciding relation to a pair of spaced-apart insert guides, drawing the first stocking of a pair over one of the guides and over one of the sections, drawing a second stocking of the pair over the other insert guide and the other section, closing to-- gether the guides and the sections and the stockings thereon, then drawing both stockings ofi the guides while withdrawing the insert from between the guides.

3. Method of packaging stockings which comprises positioning opposed substantially symmetrical sections of a thin, and stiif foldable insert form member of a shape resembling that of a pair of opposed stockings, when worn, between a pair of pivotally interconnected rigid body members of a shape substantially the same as that of the respective symmetrical sections, then drawing a first stocking of a pair over one of the body members and over the corresponding section of the insert form member, then drawing the second stocking of the pair over the other body member and the corresponding section, then swinging at least one of the body members toward the other to move the same into juxtaposition with the stockings thereon, then grasping the two' between and in close proximity to a pair of relatively thin body members of configuration corresponding substantially to the configuration of the respective leg sections, positioning the leg portions of the socks over the respective body members and thus over the respective leg'sections, then folding the foot portions of thetwo socks in over-lapping relation to the respective leg portions, then moving at least one of the body members toward the other to sandwich the foot portions of the two socks between the leg portions of the two socks on the corresponding leg sections, then withdrawing the leg sections with the socks thereon from between the body members.

5. The method of claim 4 including the steps of positioning a binder about the socks on the leg sections to maintain the package in a somewhat compacted condition.

6. A method of packaging stockings on insert forms of the type having opposed substantially symmetrical and co-extensive leg and foot sections thereon which comprises positioning the leg sections between and in close proximity to respective rigid plates of a shape substantially conforming to the shape-of the leg sections, then drawing a stocking over one of the foot and leg sections while also drawing'the leg portion of-the-stocking over the corresponding rigid plate, then drawing another stocking over the other foot and leg section while drawing the same over the other rigid plate, then folding the foot portions of the stockings inwardly with the corresponding foot sections so they are disposed in overlapping rela-.

tion to the respective leg sections, then moving'the plates toward each other to move the leg portions of the two stockings into juxtaposition, then grasping the exterior surfaces of the two leg sections adjacent to the point at which the foot sections are folded and withdrawing the stockings with the insert form from the rigid plates.

7. Apparatus for receiving opposed sections of a stiif,

foldable insert form member and for subsequently re-l ceiving socks thereonfor positioning said opposed sections in the socks comprising a first plate-like body member made from rigid material, a second plate-like body member made from rigid material, means pivotally connecting the second body member adjacent one end of the first body member, the second member having outwardly diverging opposed side edges thereon with respect to the point at which it is' pivotally connected adjacent said one end of the first body member, said opposed edges being provided with inwardly projecting flanges thereon, and at least that portion of the first body member complementary to the second body member also having diverging side edges provided with inwardly projecting flanges thereon corresponding substantially to the flanges on the second body member. 7

8. A structure according to claim 7 in which at least the upper portion of the body members are free and are provided with complementary finger openings therein.

9. Apparatus for making stocking packages comprising a pedestal having a first substantially upright rigid plate member secured thereto, said plate member having opposed substantially fiat surfaces thereon, a second plate member pivotally connected adjacent its lower end on an axis substantially parallel to one fiat surface of, and adjacent the lower portion of, the first plate member, and at least one of said plate members having inwardly projecting flanges thereon for receiving therebetween a thin foldable insert form member on which stockings may-be positioned while opposed portions of the form member are disposed in close proximity to the respective first and second plate members. a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,741 Pecker Jan. 16,1934

2,748,930 =Power et a1, June 5, 1956 2,755,924 Tuttle et al. July 24, 1956 2,796,255 Mitchell June 18, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Canada Feb. 6, 1957 

